Various Artists - Sounds Like Jimmie Rodgers: Stars That Followed The Master

Jimmie Rodgers was Country music's first superstar. His first records were made in Tennessee in August 1927, his last in May 1933: during that six-year period the sales of his records were at times phenomenal. Just as the emergence of Elvis Presley 22 years later inspired a generation of would-be Elvis's and had every record company looking for their own version of Elvis, Rodgers' success had much the same fallout effect in his day - as explored by this 100 track, 4CD set.Disc 1 presents a range of artists, some of who were outright Rodgers' copyists and others with more originality but who were obviously influenced by Rodgers.Disc 2 is devoted to Gene Autry, who is probably best known for his film and TV work and his later 'country and western' style recordings - a far cry from the blues singing, Jimmie Rodgers styled singer heard on this set (25 sides cut between 1929 and 1933). Disc 3 concentrates on The Texas Drifter - a prolific recording artist and yodeller whose real name was Goebel Reeves - and Bill Cox, aka The Dixie Songbird.Disc 4 is a mixture of well known (Hank Snow, Ernest Tubb) and less familiar performers, the disc ending with a curiosity, a compilation of extracts from Jimmie Rodgers recordings assembled as a medley. These selections were remastered in London, England in 1935 and were probably only meant for export markets outside the USA. For such a record to have been issued at all demonstrates just how far Jimmie Rodgers' fame spread.